Indonesia, Finland explore renewable energy cooperation

Jakarta (VNA) – Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi agreed to explore cooperation in the field of renewable energy and information technology, particularly in the use of peatlands in Indonesia, during their meeting in Jakarta on November 3.

During the visit, the Foreign Minister of Finland is accompanied by 11 companies representing the sectors of clean and efficient energy, infrastructure, and port management, as well as information and communication technology.

Peatlands cover about one third of Finland’s territory. They are utilised by Indonesia as a source of renewable energy through the use of technology.

Therefore, Indonesia is keen to explore cooperation with Finland in the field to benefit from its technology so as to effectively manage and use this resource and limit fires which have occurred in the country for many years, Marsudi said.

Both ministers discussed the Schengen visa-free policy for Indonesians who hold official and diplomatic passports. Soini expressed his support for this proposal from Indonesia.

In 2014, two-way trade between Finland and Indonesia hit around 780 million USD. The value of Finnish investments in Indonesia also increased significantly, from 800,000 USD in 2013 to 3.6 million USD last year.-VNA